through her silky locks. For the first time in his life, for Markus, he hesitantly took that step up to teeter right on the very edge of life. As something inside him waited, seeking his brother’s approval, he looked into the familiar darkness in the abyss below…and felt fear. How did one deal with such an emasculating emotion?
He had no idea, so, as he’d done all his life, he buried it in a grave already overflowing with possibilities, and fell into a fitful sleep. In his dreams were faceless enemies mocking a solitary figure too overcome with uncertainty to allow even a portion of happiness into his heart.
TWENTY-FIVE
All Yasmeen could think as death came for her was she should have known better.
She should have known he’d lied about wanting her. She should have known the soft tones and gentle touches after his tantrum couldn’t be trusted. It had all been about Lucian luring her deeper and deeper into his web. She should have known better.
But she hadn’t, so, when she’d seen him alone in the hot spring that used to be the moat, she hadn’t hesitated to undress and join him. They’d swam naked, intertwined in each other’s arms. He’d been kissing her so tenderly. Until something changed and he’d come on so strong he’d begun stealing her breath.
Now he was setting her away from him, watching her float away with that vacant expression on his face that she hated. She kicked her legs as her head went under and her arms began to flail. She was paying the price for trusting him. She couldn’t swim, and he was already too far away to help keep her afloat. The water closed over her again, and she kicked harder to break through the surface. He’d promised. He’d promised only days ago never to let her drift beyond his reach. He’d promised.
He’d lied.
But she would forgive him. She knew she would, if only he would make an effort to save her.
She watched his beautiful form disappear as she went under for the last time. The water was dark but hot. So hot. Heavy. Suffocating. And it hurt. Her throat was aching as if it was about to be crushed from the pressure closing in. Her lungs were flaming. About to explode. She kicked and clawed at her throat, panicking worse than ever…
Yasmeen’s eyes flew open. Lucian was on top of her, his face a mask of malevolence that would have had her running for her life had she’d been able to get away. She couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get him off her, and she couldn’t loosen the hold he had around her throat. Her collar was cutting into her skin.
“Stop,” she tried to say. “Lucian…stop.” But he didn’t.
It was funny. As weakness settled in and her limbs grew too heavy to lift, her last thought before leaving her lover wasn’t about her dying, but about how he would live with the knowledge that he’d killed her.
♦ ♦ ♦
I stood over him and smiled as he bled to death.
Lucian squeezed Sergei’s neck tighter and waited for that final breath to pass through his lips.
He called for you. Over and over he called out for his brother. Where were you, Fane?
This man had to die. Lucian couldn’t keep him alive as he’d wanted to. He couldn’t hear these things and survive his failure.
Where were you when he needed you most? You abandoned him. You gave in too easily, and you allowed me to get to him. Thanks for that.
Why was he still hearing that voice, the Russian accent, when he could barely feel a pulse anymore? How was it possible those damaging words could still reach him when not a slip of air could get into the man’s lungs around Lucian’s tight grip.
Lucian. Stop.
The sound of Markus’s voice in his head gave him such a jolt it shattered the nightmare and dislodged him from where he’d been lying on top of Yasmeen.
He stared in disbelief, his lung shearing through his harsh breaths. He hadn’t been choking Sergei in the nightmare that just wouldn’t end. He’d been taking the life of his precious pet in the cocoon he’d imprisoned her in to ensure her safety.
“Yasmeen,” he whispered, terrified at how still she was. He reached out and splayed his hands on her chest, inching them up. Markus’s still pulse came to him again, causing him to shuddered with terror. “Please, iubita mea. Don’t leave me.” His fingers found that spot…
The